Enclosure for a steamer

ABSTRACT

An enclosure ( 10, 35 ) for use with a steam generator ( 2 ) having a hand operated steam nozzle ( 5 ) for manually treating a fabric article with steam emitted from nozzle is disclosed. The enclosure has a space to receive fabric articles to be steamed and also has a steam nozzle receptacle ( 12 ) hat releasably receives a hand operated steam nozzle so that steam is directed into the enclosure from the steam nozzle for hands-free steaming of fabric articles within the enclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an enclosure for treating a fabric article with steam. The fabric article may be a garment, upholstery or other fabric and the steam treatment is to de-wrinkle and/or to clean or refresh the fabric article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to apply steam to articles, such as garments, fabrics or household upholstery, to clean and remove wrinkles or creases. Therefore, steaming is used to refresh garments when a full wash is not required or to extend the period of time between full washes. When steam passes over a fabric it helps reduce odours and heat from the steam can help to reduce creases caused by washing, storing or wearing. Also, steaming can be used to hygienically treat articles because germs are killed when exposed to steam for a period of time in the region of 5 to 10 minutes.

Hand operated steamers are known and typically comprise a steam generator and a hose with a nozzle at the end of the hose. The nozzle is held by a user and emits steam which is directed onto the article to be treated. The user then moves the nozzle over the article while pulling and stretching the article to remove creases. These products are typically used to treat garments but may also be used to treat household upholstery or curtains or other articles.

During use of hand operated steamer products some of the steam emitted escapes into the immediate surroundings without interacting with the article. This wasted steam increases the energy and water consumption of the device and is unpleasant to the user because the heat and humidity may cause discomfort. Moreover, the wasted steam means that the temperature and intensity of the steam treatment is lessened, which reduces the refreshing and hygienic effects of the steam.

It is also known, for example from US 2004/163,184 A1, to provide a flexible bag into which fabric articles, such as garments, can be placed. The bag is attached to a support and the garments are hung freely within the bag. A steam generator is provided to circulate steam through the interior of the bag to refresh the garments and manually operable vents are provided to allow a user to release steam from the bag, for example towards the end of use or when steaming delicate articles. However, as the entire article must be placed within the sealed bag, these products are not suitable for selectively steaming a small area of the article. Moreover, as the article to be treated must be placed within the sealed bag, the size of the bag limits the size of garment that can be treated, thus excluding treatment of larger garments such as curtains and upholstery that do not fit in the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for steaming a fabric article which substantially alleviates or overcomes the problems mentioned above.

According to the present invention, there is provided an enclosure for use with a steam generator having a hand operated steam nozzle for manually treating a fabric article with steam emitted from said nozzle, the enclosure comprising a space to receive fabric articles to be steamed and a steam nozzle receptacle configured to releasably receive said hand operated steam nozzle such that steam is directed into the enclosure from said steam nozzle for hands-free steaming of fabric articles in said enclosure.

The first aspect of the present invention is an enclosure with a steam nozzle receptacle which may be connected to a known steam generator with a hand operated steam nozzle. The enclosure and the steam nozzle receptacle allow a user to optionally connect the steam nozzle of an existing steam generator to the enclosure for use as a hands-free steamer.

This gives the user increased flexibility because the steam generator can either be used to manually treat small areas of an article or large objects that would not usually fit inside an enclosure, or alternatively the user can connect the nozzle to the enclosure for hands-free steaming within the enclosure. The enclosure offers the user increased options because the steamer can be used to treat a wider range of articles and also means that the user only needs to purchase one steamer and an accessory, rather than two separate steamer products.

Connecting the enclosure to a hand operated steamer is also advantageous for refreshing, cleaning and hygiene reasons. Articles can be steamed in the enclosure for an extended period of time, without any additional effort from the user, to eliminate any germs that may be present on the article. This is more difficult to achieve with an exclusively hand operated steamer because the user must hold the nozzle against each part of the article for an extended period of time until the hygienic effect is achieved, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable for the user. Therefore, the steam nozzle can be connected to the enclosure to improve the cleaning and refreshing effects of the steam treatment and, if required, the user still has the capability to detach the nozzle and use the nozzle in a hand operated function.

The hand operated steam nozzle may be connected to said steam generator via a flexible hose and the enclosure may further comprise at least one hose support member configured to support said hose such that, when said hand operated steam nozzle is received in said steam nozzle receptacle, said hose is supported so that condensed water cannot be trapped within said hose.

If water becomes trapped in the flexible hose carrying steam from the steam generator to the hand operated steam nozzle then the flow of steam will be reduced and may even be blocked, adversely affecting the performance of the product.

The at least one hose support member may comprise at least one arm extending in a direction away from the enclosure, the flexible hose being removably attachable to said arm.

The at least one arm would support the hose in a position away from the enclosure so that the hose is held in a way that prevents loops that create ‘U’ bends or troughs in which water may become trapped. In this situation, any condensate forming in the hose would flow back to the steam generator along the hose, rather than becoming trapped in a part of the hose and affecting steam flow. If the hose support member had a plurality of arms then multiple points of the flexible hose would be supported and this would allow the hose to be held in different configurations. For example, a part of the hose may be supported in a helical shape with a positive incline, so that water can not become trapped anywhere within the hose.

The nozzle receptacle may comprise an opening into the enclosure and may comprise a recess, said recess may be shaped to releasably receive a hand operated steam nozzle such that when said steam nozzle is inserted into the recess said steam nozzle is retained in said recess and a steam emitting end of that steam nozzle is aligned with the opening.

The recess allows a user to easily attach the nozzle of the hand operated steamer to the enclosure for hands-free steaming within the enclosure. The steam continues to pass through the nozzle and then through the opening into the enclosure so no components need to be removed or added to the hand operated nozzle to facilitate the connection.

Advantageously, the recess may include an enlarged portion that allows a user access to grasp a hand operated steam nozzle received in the recess and the enlarged portion of the recess may be aligned with a handle of said steam nozzle when said steam nozzle is received in the recess.

The recess allows a user to easily grasp and remove the nozzle from the nozzle receptacle at the end of operation or for using the nozzle for manual steam treatment of articles. If the recess is aligned with the handle then the user can grasp the handle of the steam nozzle within the recess to remove the nozzle.

The recess may further comprise a portion to receive a handle of a hand operated steam nozzle when said steam nozzle is received in the nozzle receptacle.

The handle receiving portion will act to hold the handle in position when the nozzle is received in the nozzle receptacle such that the steam emitting end of the nozzle is aligned with the opening.

The recess may be configured such that when a hand operated steam nozzle is received in the nozzle receptacle said steam nozzle is substantially flush to a side of the enclosure.

This arrangement occupies less space and, because the steam nozzle is not protruding from the side of the enclosure during use, the risk of the nozzle becoming dislodged is reduced.

The recess may comprise a flared portion that is substantially the same shape as a flared steam emitting head of a hand operated steam nozzle, said flared portion extending further than the size of said steam emitting head such that said steam nozzle can be inserted into the flared portion and then moved into alignment with the recess to align the steam emitting head of said steam nozzle with the opening in the steam nozzle receptacle.

This arrangement makes it easy for a user to attach and remove a steam nozzle from the nozzle receptacle—the user moves the nozzle towards the flared portion which releases the nozzle from the recess.

The nozzle receptacle may also comprise means for releasably securing a hand operated steam nozzle to the nozzle receptacle.

This will further ensure that the steam nozzle is securely retained while allowing a user to easily remove the nozzle from the receptacle. The means for releasably securing a hand operated steam nozzle to the nozzle receptacle may comprise magnets to interact with magnets or magnetic material on a hand operated steam nozzle. These magnets may provide a holding force that retains the nozzle during operation but can be easily overcome by a user when disconnecting the nozzle from the enclosure.

The enclosure may further comprise a water collecting means configured to collect condensed water that has accumulated at a lower end of the enclosure.

The water collecting means allows a user to easily remove and dispose of water that collects at the bottom of the enclosure.

The enclosure may also comprise a base plate, extending across the bottom of the enclosure during use and configured to direct collected water into the water collecting means.

The base plate will act to support the enclosure in an extended position and to collect water that accumulates in the enclosure and direct it into the water collecting means.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for treating a fabric article with steam, comprising a steam generator and an enclosure as described above, said steam generator having a steam hose and steam nozzle suitable for hand operated manual steaming of fabric articles, said steam nozzle being optionally connectable to the nozzle receptacle of the enclosure for supplying steam to the enclosure for hands-free steaming of fabric articles received in said enclosure.

The enclosure may be provided as an accessory for a hand operated steamer, as previously described, or it may be provided together with the steamer, as described above.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for treating a fabric article with steam, comprising an enclosure to receive fabric articles to be steamed and a base unit having a steam generator and a steam outlet, said steam outlet having connecting means configured to enable it to either be connected to the enclosure, for hands-free steaming of fabric articles received in the enclosure or, to a steam hose and steam nozzle, for hand operated manual steaming of fabric articles.

This apparatus also allows a user to choose between hands-free steaming and hand operated manual steaming of fabric articles. The option to connect a steam hose and steam nozzle to the base unit of a steam enclosure allows a user to change the function of the apparatus from hands-free steaming within the enclosure to manual steaming using the steam hose and steam nozzle.

The apparatus may further comprise an upper assembly, to which the enclosure is removably attached, and an extendable supporting arm that is attachable to the base unit and to the upper assembly to support the upper assembly and the enclosure.

The upper assembly will support the enclosure in the deployed position, defining the space within the enclosure, and the extendable arm, which may for example be telescopic, allows the apparatus to be collapsed, so that the upper assembly and the base unit meet and the overall apparatus is compacted. This is desirable for easy storage and transport purposes.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 12 of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a hand operated garment steamer as is known in the art;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the enclosure for treating a fabric article with steam, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the steam nozzle receptacle of the enclosure of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show front and rear views of the steam nozzle receptacle and base plate of the enclosure of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the upper support of the enclosure of FIGS. 2 to 6;

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the enclosure of the invention which is connected to a steam generator in such a way to prevent water becoming trapped in the steam hose.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show alternative embodiments of the enclosure, according to the invention, that include steam hose support members to prevent water from becoming trapped in the steam hose.

FIG. 12 shows a view of a second embodiment of apparatus for treating a fabric article with steam, according to the invention;

FIG. 13 shows the base unit of the apparatus of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows the support unit of the apparatus of FIGS. 12 and 13; and,

FIG. 15 shows the apparatus of FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 adapted for hand operated steaming.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 a shows a hand operated garment steamer 1 as is known in the art. The steamer comprises a base unit 2 that houses a steam generator and a support arm 3 extends from the base unit 2. The support arm may be made up of a single, double or multiple poles. A steam hose 4 is attached to the steam generator to receive and transfer steam to a nozzle 5. A user provides the steam generator with water via a refillable or removable water storage tank. To use the steamer, the user places a garment on a coat hanger and hangs the coat hanger on the support arm 3. Alternatively, the hanger could be fixedly attached to the top of support arm 3. The user can then move the nozzle 5 over the garment as steam is provided from the nozzle 5 to treat the garment. To remove wrinkles and creases from the garment the user can pull and stretch the garment while applying steam from the nozzle 5.

FIG. 1 b shows an enlarged view of the nozzle 5, or steaming head, of the hand operated garment steamer 1 shown in FIG. 1 a. The nozzle 5 comprises a handle portion 6 and a steam emitting portion 7, the end face 8 of which comprises a plurality of holes for emitting the steam carried to the nozzle 5 along the hose 4. In the example shown in FIG. 1 b, the steam emitting portion 7 of the nozzle 5 has an outwardly tapered shape extending from the substantially cylindrical handle portion 6 such that the steam emitting end face 8 has an elliptical shape and is directed at an angle to the direction of the handle portion 6 to make it easier for a user to hold and use the nozzle 5.

This invention seeks to provide a product whereby a user can optionally choose a “hands-free” steam treatment function, with an enclosure for containing the garments, or a “hand operated” steam treatment function, where the user holds a steam nozzle for direct steaming action. For example, the user would be able to use the hand operated function to treat large articles, such as upholstery and curtains, or for treating only a select small area of one article, and then the product can be changed to “hands-free” steaming for treating the whole of garments.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an apparatus for treating a fabric article using steam that allows a user to select between hand operated and hands-free steaming. The apparatus comprises an enclosure 10 that can be used with the hand operated steamer of FIGS. 1 a and lb to provide hands-free steaming. The enclosure 10 has an openable main body 15, such as a flexible bag, with a hanger 11 provided at the top of the enclosure 10 for suspending the enclosure 10 from a support structure. In FIG. 2, the enclosure 10 is shown supported by the support arm 3 that extends from the hand operated steamer product 1 of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, although the hanger 11 also allows the enclosure 10 to be supported elsewhere, for example, a hook on an adjacent wall.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The support arm 3 of the hand operated steamer is shown extending from the base unit 2 and the enclosure 10 is supported on the arm 3 by the hanger 11. The hose 4 extends from the base unit 2 and the nozzle 5 is attached to the enclosure 10 via a steam nozzle receptacle 12 located towards the lower end of the main body 15 of the enclosure 10 for providing steam to the interior of the enclosure 10. The hose 4 is also attached to the support arm 3 by a hose support member, such as a strap 13, to hold the hose 4 in a convenient position that is not obstructive and also allows the orientation of the nozzle 5 to match the nozzle receptacle 12 in this example vertically downwards as shown in FIG. 3.

The steam generator of FIGS. 2 and 3 is known and typically comprises a water storage tank that a user fills with water for providing to the steam generator. The steam generator is connected to mains electricity supply to power a heater which evaporates water into steam and directs that steam, for example by means of a blower, along the hose 4 to the nozzle 5.

The main body 15 of the enclosure 10 may be made of a flexible and water impermeable material that is also impervious to the heat and humidity it will be exposed to during use of the apparatus. Furthermore, the inside surface of the main body 15 of the enclosure 10 may have an anti-bacterial lining to prevent bacterial growth that may occur when the device is not being used. The humidity and warmth caused by the steam will remain for some time after use and bacteria may grow in this environment.

The main body 15 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a zipper 14, or similar closing means such as Velcro or magnets, which allow a user to sealably close and open the enclosure 10 for moving fabric articles, such as garments, into and out of the enclosure 10. As shown in FIG. 2 the opening line, along which the zipper 14 will open the main body 15, may be ‘C’ shaped to provide easy access for a user. Alternatively, the opening line may be ‘L’ shaped and may extend along two adjacent edges of the enclosure so that a side or front of the enclosure 10 is openable.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the nozzle receptacle 12 of the enclosure 10 and the nozzle 5 of the hand operated steamer received in the nozzle receptacle 12. The nozzle receptacle 12 is sealably attached to the main body 15 of the enclosure 10 and retains the nozzle 5 while allowing steam to pass into the interior of the enclosure 10. The nozzle receptacle 12 comprises a recess 16 that is shaped to approximately match the shape of the nozzle 5, such that when the nozzle 5 is inserted into the recess 16 the nozzle 5 is retained in the recess 16 by a friction fit, although it is envisaged that it could be retained by other means. For example, it may be held in the recess 16 using magnetic force or by some other clip, lock or strap arrangement, so long as a user is able to easily insert and remove the nozzle 5. The steam emitting end 8 (see FIG. 1 b) of the nozzle 5 is aligned to and communicates with an opening 17 (see FIG. 6) in the nozzle receptacle 12 and main body 15 that allows steam leaving the nozzle 5 to pass directly into the interior of the enclosure 10 when the nozzle 5 is mounted in the recess 16.

Alternatively, the nozzle receptacle 12 may have guiding features (not shown) such as ribs that protrude from the nozzle receptacle 12 and removably receive the hand operated steam nozzle 5 in the desired orientation. In this case, only the guiding features of the nozzle receptacle 12 need to match the shape of the hand operated steam nozzle 5.

As also shown in FIG. 4, the recess 16 includes a ‘scoop’, or enlarged area 18 that is aligned with the handle portion 6 (see FIG. 1 b) of the nozzle 5 to allow a user access to grip the nozzle 5 unimpeded while inserting or removing the nozzle 5 from the nozzle receptacle 12.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle 5 has the cylindrical handle 6 and outwardly tapered end 7 described with reference to FIG. 1 b. Therefore, to match this shape, the recess has two distinct portions; a flared portion 30 for receiving the steam emitting end 7, and a straight portion 31 for receiving the handle 6. The flared portion 30 of the recess 16 extends further than the actual size of the nozzle 5, allowing a user to loosely and easily insert the nozzle 5 in the extra part of the recess and then pull the nozzle into engagement with the recess 16 such that the steam emitting end 8 will align with the opening 17. This makes it easier for a user to insert and remove the nozzle 5 from the recess 16. The nozzle is received in a substantially flush orientation, such that the handle portion sits against the side of the main body 15 of the enclosure 10 and the angled elliptical end 8 of the nozzle 5 is directed towards the interior of the enclosure 10 through the opening 17. In this embodiment, the recess 16 receives the nozzle 5 in a downwards orientation, as shown in FIG. 4, which also makes it easier for a user to insert and remove the nozzle 5 and also so that the hose 4 extends in a manageable direction the hose 4 will extend upwards from the nozzle 5 and can be attached to the support arm as shown in FIG. 3. Attaching the hose 4 to the support arm 3 in this manner also prevents any loops forming in the hose in which water can collect, such as a ‘U’ bend or trough. These loops would act as a water trap and collect condensate which would reduce the steam flow through the hose and may even block the flow entirely if enough condensate were to collect and fill a loop.

FIG. 5 shows the base assembly 19 of the enclosure 10, with the main body 15 not shown. The base assembly 19 includes the nozzle receptacle 12 and a base plate 20 which, in this embodiment, are integrally formed. The base plate 20 extends across the entire bottom of the enclosure 10 and is attached to the main body 15 around its edges. The base plate 20 collects water that has formed by condensation within the enclosure 10 during steaming. The main body 15 will be cooler than the steam in the enclosure 10 causing water to be formed by condensation which will accumulate at the bottom of the enclosure. The base plate 20 is configured to collect this water and channel it into a water collecting tank 21 or alternatively into a pipe (not shown) which carries the water away from the enclosure 10.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the base assembly 19, from the inside of the enclosure. The base plate 20 incorporates a space 22 for receiving a removable water storage tank 21 with an opening 23 between the base plate 20 and the space 22 that allows water to flow from the interior of the enclosure 10 into the water storage tank 21. After using the product, or if the water storage tank 21 becomes full, a user can easily remove the water storage tank 21 and dispose of the water. The water may be used as supply water for the steam generator.

Another embodiment, which is not shown in the Figures, has a pipe that carries condensed water from the opening away from the enclosure 10. The pipe may be provided with a valve that allows a user to close and open a fluid path through the pipe. The pipe may also be connectable to the water supply tank of the steam generator to feed the condensed water directly back to the steam generator for re-use, thereby making a closed circuit and reducing water consumption.

Also shown in FIG. 6 are magnets 24 that interact with corresponding magnets or magnetic material (not shown) in the nozzle 5. This provides a holding force to retain the nozzle 4 in the nozzle receptacle 12 which may be additional to, or instead of, a frictional force, as referred to in more detail above. The force from the magnets 24 can be easily overcome by a user to remove the nozzle 5. Furthermore, other holding means may instead or additionally be used to hold the nozzle in the nozzle receptacle, for example, a catch, clamp, fastener, clip or strap.

FIG. 7 shows the upper support 25 that forms a part of the enclosure 10 and the main body 15 is not shown. The upper support 25 comprises an external hanger 26, an internal hanger 27 and a support body 28 which extends across the top of the enclosure 10. The main body 15 is sealably joined to the support body 28 around the edges to attach the main body 15 to the upper support 25. The external hanger 11 comprises a hook which can be used to hang the enclosure 10 from a suitable point, for example from the support arm 3 (see FIG. 3) that extends from the hand operated steamer base unit 2. When the upper support 25 is supported in this way the main body 15, being flexible and having the weight of the base plate 20 pulling it downwards, will be suspended in an expanded manner suitable for operation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The support body 28 of the upper support 25 ensures that the entire main body 15 of the enclosure 10 is sufficiently supported. The support body 25 also comprises openings 29 on either side of the external hanger 11. These openings 29 align with manually operated vents in the main body 15 that allow a user to open and close a fluid path between the interior of the enclosure 10 and the outside. These vents may be used towards the end of a steaming cycle, to reduce the amount of steam, heat and humidity in the enclosure, or may be used to reduce the amount of steam in the enclosure 10 if the article being steamed is delicate or susceptible to excessive heat or humidity.

FIG. 8 shows the internal hanger 27 of the upper support 25 which comprises a hanging bar mounted opposite the external hanger 11 and centrally within the enclosure 10. The hanging bar can be used to support garments, fabrics or articles, or a clothes hanger that in turn supports the garments.

The flexible nature of the body 15 of the enclosure 10 means that, when not in use, the enclosure 10 can be collapsed to a small size and stored easily. With no steam generator or other large components attached directly to the enclosure 10, when collapsed it will be compact and lightweight, which is preferable for storage. The upper support 25 and base plate 20 may be attachable to each other, for example by a clip or strap (none shown), to hold the enclosure in a collapsed state for storage.

As described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8, the steam nozzle 5 may be received in the nozzle receptacle 12 in a downwards orientation with the hose 4 attached the support arm 3, for example by a strap 13 (as shown in FIG. 3). This arrangement is advantageous because it prevents formation of a water collecting loop in the steam hose 4, such as a ‘U’ bend, trough or low-point, in which condensate may collect. Therefore, water is prevented from collecting in the hose 4 and steam flow reduction is avoided. Any condensate that forms in the hose 4 will flow along the hose 4 to either the steam nozzle 5 or to the steam generator 2.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the enclosure in which a nozzle receptacle 51 is located at the top of the enclosure 10, adjacent to the external hanger 11, and is orientated such that the hand operated steam nozzle 5 is received in an upwards orientation. In this configuration the hose extends downwardly from the steam nozzle 5, towards the steam generator, so that the hose 4 is supported so that no loops or troughs in which water may collect are located between the steam generator 2 and the steam nozzle 5. This avoids the problem of condensate collecting in ‘U’ bends, troughs or low points located between the ends of the hose 4 which may reduce or block the passage of steam along the hose 4. Again, any condensate forming in the hose 4 would be returned to the steam generator 2.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show different embodiments of the enclosure 10 with a nozzle receptacle located towards the bottom of the enclosure 10, similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. However, the nozzle receptacles of these embodiments are configured such that the steam nozzle 5 is received in an upwards orientation. The embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 also include a hose support member that supports the hose 4 in an arrangement without a trough or low-point located between the ends of the hose.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment with a hose support member 52 that may extend from either the base plate 20 of the enclosure 10 or from the nozzle receptacle 12 or may be attached to the support arm 3. The hose support member 52 has an arm 53 onto which the hose 4 is removably attachable. The arm 53 extends away from the enclosure 10 and supports the hose 4 between its ends (between the steam generator 2 and hand operated steam nozzle 5). The hose 4 is supported in a position away from the enclosure 10 and support arm 3 so that the hose 4 does not have a ‘U’ bend, trough or minimum point between its ends, which would collect water or condensate. In this way, any water formed by condensation will be returned to the steam generator along the hose 4. The arm 53 of the support member 52 may be foldable or retractable so that it can be moved into a stowed position when not in use. For example, the arm 53 shown in FIG. 10 is hingedly attached to a fixed portion 54 about a pivot 55 so that the arm 53 can be folded against the main support arm 3 on which the enclosure 10 is mounted when not in use. The arm 53 may move between pre-determined stowed and deployed positions, or alternatively the hinge may include a spring that pushes the arm 53, and hose 4, away from the support arm 3.

The hose 4 may removably attach to the arm 53 by a clip or strap. As shown in FIG. 10, the arm 53 may comprise a half-round clip 56 in which the hose 4 is received. The half-round clip 56 may be the same size as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the hose 4 so that the hose can be removably attached to the half-round clip 56.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment similar to that described with reference to FIG. 10—with a nozzle receptacle 12 located at the bottom of the enclosure 10 and configured to receive a hand operated steam nozzle 5 in an upwards orientation, with the hose 4 extending downwards from the nozzle receptacle 12 towards the steam generator 2. The enclosure 10 of this embodiment also has a hose support member 57 which supports the hose 4 extending between the steam generator 2 and the hand operated steam nozzle 5 when the nozzle 5 is received in the nozzle receptacle 12 for supplying steam to the enclosure 10. In this embodiment, the hose support member 57 comprises a central rod 58 extending from a boss 59 on the base plate 20 of the enclosure 10. The boss 59 may alternatively attach to the nozzle receptacle 12 or the main support arm (not shown). A plurality of support arms 60 are attached to and extend radially from the central rod 58 and the hose 4 is attachable to each of the support arms 60 such that the hose 4 has no ‘U’ bends, troughs or low-points, in which water can collect, located between the steam generator 2 and the hand operated steam nozzle 5.

For example, FIG. 11 shows the support arms 60 arranged to support a part of the hose 4 in a helical or spiral configuration, with a constant, positive gradient, such that water in the hose 4 will flow back to the steam generator 2 and cannot be trapped at any point along the hose. The end of each support arm 60 has a connector 61 to which a part of the hose 4 is attachable. Each connector 61 may have a fixed orientation or may be rotatable about the support arm 60 to either fix or vary the angle at which the hose 4 is attached to each support arm 60. As with the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 10, the connector may be a clip such as a half-round clip in which the hose 4 is removably attached. In an alternative embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 11, the support arms 60 may be supported on and extend from the main support arm 3 on which the enclosure 10 is supported.

When using the steamer 1 of FIG. 1 a in combination with the enclosure 10 described, a user would not need to handle the garments or fabric during steaming and is protected from the steam by the enclosure 10. Furthermore, the user does not need to handle or move the nozzle 5 that is releasing the steam. This greatly improves the user experience. Conveniently, the steamer and enclosure can be left for an entire cycle without any interaction and hence hands-free steaming is provided.

The apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11 allows a user to quickly and easily attach an existing hand operated steamer product 1 to an enclosure 10 accessory and to select which function is most suitable for their task. For example, a user might use the hand operated steam nozzle to treat curtains and upholstery and then attach the enclosure 10 to treat garments. Use of the enclosure will result in greater cleaning and refreshing effects because articles within the enclosure will be completely surrounded by steam and may be left for a prolonged period of time without constant user interaction. During this time, the steam can act to sterilise the garments by heating and killing organisms, such as germs. The fast and simple attachment method is easy to use and requires minimal set-up time or effort. The enclosure can be hung on the support arm 3 which is already a part of the hand operated steamer product 1 so the overall assembly is compact and convenient for storage.

The enclosure 10 may be sold in combination with a hand operated steamer 1 or as an additional accessory, giving customers a choice over the function of the product. If a user required both types of function hand operated and hands-free, they would currently need to buy two products. This invention allows the user to adapt the function of an existing product to match their needs and so they only need to purchase one product with the enclosure accessory.

The enclosure 10 may also include an ultraviolet lamp (not shown), powered by battery or from an external power source such as mains electricity. The ultraviolet lamp is positioned to emit UV light onto the fabric articles being steamed to provide a sterilisation and germicidal effect UV light, for example light with a wavelength of 253.7 nm, disrupts DNA base pairing which leads to the death of bacteria exposed to that light. Therefore, during operation, the steam will clean and sterilise the garments as well as remove some creases where the UV lamp will act to further sterilise the garments, providing an improved cleaning effect. It will be appreciated that that steaming and UV operation may occur in a simultaneous or sequential manner.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus 32 for treating fabric articles with steam. This embodiment comprises a base unit 33, upper assembly 34 and a flexible enclosure 35 extending between the top and base units 33, 34. The upper assembly 34 is attached to the base unit 33 by means of a telescopically extendable arm 36. When the arm 36 is retracted the upper assembly 34 is positioned on top of the base unit 33 and acts a lid. To deploy the product 32 a user pulls the upper assembly 34 away from the base unit 33 by the handle 37, thereby extending the arm 36 which is locked into an extended position by a catch or similar mechanism.

The flexible enclosure 35 is attached to both the upper assembly 34 and the base unit 33 so that when the apparatus 32 is in a deployed state (arm 36 extended) the enclosure 35 is suspended between the top and bottom units 33, 34 and formed so that a user can place fabric articles, such as garments, within the enclosure 35. The enclosure 35 may also have one or more vents that release steam from the enclosure 35. A zipper 38 is provided to allow a user to open the enclosure 35 for inserting and removing articles from the enclosure 35 and the upper assembly 34 includes an internal hanger 39 (see FIG. 14), such as a hook or bar, for hanging articles within the enclosure 35. The zipper 38 for opening the enclosure 35 may be ‘C’ shaped or may extend in a straight line in any place on the enclosure 35 that allows a user to open the enclosure 35 sufficiently for placing articles into the enclosure 35. The example shown in FIG. 12 shows a straight zipper 38 along the front of the enclosure 35 in the middle. The enclosure 35 is made from a flexible and steam impermeable material or a material with poor steam permeability, that is also resistant to the heat and humidity of steam.

When the arm 36 is retracted the flexible enclosure 35 collapses and the upper assembly 34 covers the top of the base unit 33. In this position, the apparatus 32 is compact and easily moveable and storable. The upper assembly 34 may be directly attachable to the base unit 33 by means of a clip, catch or strap (none shown) to hold the apparatus 32 closed and allow it to be lifted and moved by the handle 37 on the upper assembly 34.

FIG. 13 shows the base unit 33 which includes a steam generator (not shown) and water storage area 40 and may also include a blower. The base unit 33 is connectable to mains electricity which powers a heater in the steam generator and a user provides water to the water storage area 40; preferably distilled or evaporated water is used to prevent impurities and scale from accumulating in the steam generator. The water storage area 40 may be a fixed, refillable tank as shown in FIG. 13, or it may be a removable tank that a user can remove, refill and reinsert to the base unit 33. The base unit 33 has a window 41 through which a user can pour water to refill the storage area 40. The heater is configured to evaporate water from the water storage area 40 into steam and provide that steam to the steam outlet 42 shown in FIG. 13. The steam outlet 42 emits the steam directly into the enclosure 35 where the articles for treatment are located. Steam will naturally rise through the enclosure 35 and circulate by convection to envelope the fabric articles in the enclosure 35, although a blower may be included to drive the steam into the enclosure 35. Also shown in FIG. 13 is a door 43 that opens into a storage compartment 44 that can be used to store components and accessories of the apparatus.

FIG. 14 shows the upper assembly 34 with the flexible enclosure 35 sealably attached to the upper assembly 34 and the internal hanger 39 for supporting fabric articles within the enclosure 35. The main body 45 of the upper assembly 34 is dome shaped with an internal cavity which provides a space for the enclosure 35 and other components when the apparatus 32 is collapsed into the retracted position. The flexible enclosure 35 may be attachable to the upper assembly 34 by means of catches, clips, ties or magnets (none shown) that allow a user to easily remove the enclosure 35 for cleaning or drying purposes or for changing the function of the apparatus 32, as will become apparent later.

Also shown in FIG. 14, mounted within the cavity in the upper assembly 34, is an ultraviolet (UV) lamp 46. The lamp 46 emits UV light into the enclosure 35 to provide a sterilisation and germicidal effect. UV light, for example light with a wavelength of 253.7 nm, disrupts DNA base pairing which leads to the death of bacteria exposed to that light. Therefore, during operation, the steam will clean the garments as well as remove some creases and the UV lamp 46 will act to further sterilise the garments, providing an improved cleaning effect.

The lamp 46 is located in the upper assembly 34 and is powered by the mains electricity by a cable from the base unit 33 along or through the extendable arm 36. Other electrical equipment required for operation of the lamp 46 and the heater in the steam generator, and any other electrical components, such as transformers and ballast for the lamp 46, can be located in the base unit 33.

When the steam in the enclosure 35 encounters cool surfaces, such as the edges and top of the enclosure 35, it will be condensed into water. This water will naturally accumulate on the walls in the enclosure 35 and flow down towards the base unit 33. The top surface 47 (see FIG. 13) of the base unit 33, exposed to the interior of the enclosure 35, should be waterproof and configured to direct the accumulating water into a water collection means. The water collection means may be a storage tank or a pipe that carries the water away from the apparatus. The pipe may instead feed the water directly into the water storage area for re-use in the steam generator. The lamp 46 and other equipment exposed to the interior of the enclosure 35 should be waterproof and resistant to the heat and humidity of steam to avoid damage to those components.

The embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 uses an enclosure 35 to contain steam for treating small and medium sized fabric articles such as garments. However, the steam outlet 42 in the base unit 33, shown in FIG. 13, is configured to be attachable to a hose accessory for changing the function of the apparatus 32 to a hand operated steam nozzle. As shown in FIG. 15, a hose 48 and steam nozzle 49, similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b (4, 5 of FIG. 1 b), can be attached to the steam outlet 42 to provide an optional hand operated steam nozzle function. The steam outlet and the hose each comprise compatible quick release hose fittings, such as push on mechanisms or a clamp, that allow a user to quickly and easily attach the hose to the steam outlet 42. Once the arm 36 is extended a garment 50 can be hung from the upper assembly 34 as shown in FIG. 15 and the enclosure 35 can either be moved out of the way (it is flexible) or it can be detached from the upper assembly 34 and/or base unit 33 and stored elsewhere, such as in the storage compartment 43. A user can then use the steam nozzle 5 in a hand operated manner, moving the steam nozzle 5 over the garment 50 and pulling the creases out of the garment 50. As explained previously, this function may also be useful for treating articles that would not fit within the enclosure 35, such as upholstery and curtains, or for only treating a small area of an article, which would not be possible with the enclosure 35 because steam would have to be applied to the entire article. When not in use, the hose 48, nozzle 49 and/or flexible enclosure 35 can be stored in the storage area 43 in the base unit 33.

In an alternative embodiment, the steam outlet may be provided with two separate connection points (not shown in the drawings) so that both the enclosure 35 and a hose 48 and nozzle 49 can be attached to the steam outlet and used simultaneously. The two connection points may be located in different places, for example, the connection point for the enclosure may be located on a top surface of the steam generator (similarly to the steam outlet 42 as shown in FIG. 13) and the connection point for the hose 48 and nozzle 49 may be located on a side face of the steam generator. In this way, both the enclosure 35 and the hose 48 and nozzle 49 can be connected and used simultaneously. A switch or valve (not shown in the drawings) may be provided that controls the balance of the steam flow through each of the connection points, so that steam is directed to either the enclosure 35 or to the hose 48 and nozzle 49 either individually or simultaneously.

The option to switch between the hands-free and hand operated steaming functions in a single product is beneficial for users who only need to buy one product to enable them to perform both functions. As with the first embodiment, use of the enclosure will result in a greater cleaning and refreshing effect as the articles are completely surrounded by steam and can be left for a prolonged period of time.

It will be appreciated that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and that the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel features or any novel combinations of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the parent invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom. 

1. An enclosure for use with a steam generator having a hand operated steam nozzle for manually treating a fabric article with steam emitted from said nozzle, the enclosure comprising a space to receive fabric articles to be treated, characterised in that the enclosure further comprises a steam nozzle receptacle configured to releasably receive said hand operated steam nozzle such that steam is directed into the enclosure from said steam nozzle for hands-free steaming of fabric articles in said enclosure.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising at least one hose support member configured to support a flexible hose of said steam generator such that condensed water cannot be trapped within said hose during use of the enclosure.
 3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the at least one hose support member comprises at least one arm extending in a direction away from the enclosure, and attachment means to which said flexible hose can be removably attached during use of the enclosure.
 4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the nozzle receptacle comprises a recess and an opening into the enclosure, said recess being shaped to releasably receive a hand operated steam nozzle such that when said hand operated steam nozzle is inserted into the recess said steam nozzle is retained in said recess and a steam emitting end of that steam nozzle is aligned with the opening.
 5. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the recess includes an enlarged portion that allows a user access to grasp a hand operated steam nozzle received in the recess.
 6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein the enlarged portion of the recess is positioned to be aligned with a handle of a hand operated steam nozzle when said steam nozzle is received in the recess.
 7. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the recess further comprises a portion to receive a handle of a hand operated steam nozzle when said steam nozzle is received in the nozzle receptacle.
 8. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the recess is configured such that when a hand operated steam nozzle is received in the nozzle receptacle said steam nozzle is disposed flush against the enclosure.
 9. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the recess comprises a flared portion that is adapted to receive a flared steam emitting head of a hand operated steam nozzle such that said steam nozzle can be inserted into the flared portion and then moved into alignment with the recess to align the steam emitting head of said steam nozzle with the opening of the steam nozzle receptacle.
 10. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the nozzle receptacle also comprises means for releasably securing a hand operated steam nozzle to the nozzle receptacle.
 11. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a water collecting means configured to collect condensed water that has accumulated at a lower portion of the enclosure.
 12. The enclosure of claim 11, further comprising a base plate, extending across the bottom of the enclosure and configured to direct collected water into the water collecting means.
 13. Apparatus for treating a fabric article with steam, comprising a steam generator and an enclosure according to claim 1, said steam generator having a steam hose and steam nozzle suitable for hand operated manual steaming of fabric articles, said steam nozzle being optionally connectable to the nozzle receptacle of the enclosure for supplying steam to the enclosure for hands-free steaming of fabric articles received in said enclosure.
 14. Apparatus for treating a fabric article with steam, comprising an enclosure to receive fabric articles to be steamed and a base unit having a steam generator and a steam outlet, said steam outlet being disposed within the enclosure for hands-free steaming of fabric articles received in the enclosure characterised in that the steam outlet comprises connecting means configured to enable a user to connected a steam nozzle to the steam outlet for hand operated manual steaming of fabric articles.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an upper assembly, to which the enclosure is removably attached, and an extendable supporting arm attachable to the base unit and to the upper assembly to support the upper assembly and the enclosure. 